City bike systems as an element of building social awareness - The use of resources in a sustainable city

The city bike system is a promising instrument for promoting sustainable urban mobility through reduced energy consumption and environmental awareness support. This study investigates the environmental, economic, political, social, and technological determinants of the efficiency and user acceptance of bike-sharing systems, with a particular focus on new free-floating models (FFBS). We collected the data by implementing a large-scale survey of 60,000 respondents in six cities worldwide, enabling in-depth cross-city comparisons. While confirming that urban bikes are predominantly used for close-distance commutes during peak hours—a phenomenon well discussed in past literature—our findings extend the existing level of technological determinism by pointing to emerging determinants of success within systems. Specifically, the study recognises that technological advancements (e.g., smartphone application design and smart route planning) significantly enhance user satisfaction and running efficiency. Besides, ecologism and health awareness are viewed as all-encompassing psychological drivers that add to previous perceptions characterised by convenience and price considerations. Notably, the report identifies variations in users' behaviour by socio-economic and geographical location, eroding homogeneity in worldwide trends toward adopting bike-sharing. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to analyse how the most important factors directly and indirectly affect each other, showing that technology, social aspects, and environmental issues have the biggest impact on whether people accept the system. The results yield practical policy suggestions for urban policymakers and planners, emphasising the importance of coordinated public and private strategies, user-focused infrastructure planning, and customised educational programs to facilitate sustainable, equitable urban transport systems.